Tone indicating music box and its application to a music instrument

ABSTRACT

My invention comprises a music box mechanism with its metal revolving drum studded with metal plucking pins and its metal tone producing reeds, but where each of the tone producing reeds is electrically isolated from each other and from the electrical ground. The other working parts, including the plucking pins and revolving drum, are part of the electrical ground, and continuity exists and only exists between a tone producing metal keep and the electrical ground when the reed is in the process of being plucked by a metal plucking pin of said ground potential. To each key (or other point of actuation) of a music instrument (such as a toy piano) is placed a light bulb wired in series with the metal reed (or switch) producing the same tone when plucked as the key of the music instrument, when struck. The other connection of all the light bulbs is connected to one side of a battery, and the other side of the battery (or other voltage source) is connected to the electrical ground. Thus, as the music box plays, a child may accompany, (on a toy piano) the music boxes tune correctly by stricking only those keys hearolded (or signaled) by a blinking light. As each lights blinks over a given key (of a toy piano) just before the corresponding metal reed in the music box sounds, (this being the point when the plucking pin is in the process of plucking) there is even some allowance of time for the childs reflexes in his responding to the light signal.

United States Patent [111 3,720,1l28 Frank l lMal'cll 13, 1973 [54] TONE INDICATING MUSIC BOX AND pins and its metal tone producing reeds, but where ITS APPLICATION TO A MUSIC INSTRUMENT Eugene P. Frank, 350 East St. James St., San Jose, Calif. 95112 Filed: Dec. 30, 1971 Appl. No.: 214,094

[76] Inventor:

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1951 12/1955 l/1962 2/1963 l/l969 Eckhardt ..84/l02 Stegner ..84/464 Karraker ..84/464 Vaughn ..84/l02 X Wolf ..84/478 Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-John F. Gonzales [57] ABSTRACT My invention comprises a music box mechanism with its metal revolving drum studded with metal plucking each of the tone producing reeds is electrically isolated from each other and from the electrical ground. The other working parts, including the plucking pins and revolving drum, are part of the electrical ground, and continuity exists and only exists between a tone producing metal keep and the electrical ground when the reed is in the process of being plucked by a metal plucking pin of said ground potential. To each key (or other point of actuation) of a music instrument (such as a toy piano) is placed a light bulb wired in series with the metal reed (or switch) producing the same tone when plucked as the key of the music instrument, when struck. The other connection of all the light bulbs is connected to one side of a battery, and the other side of the battery (or other voltage source) is connected to the electrical ground. Thus, as the music box plays, a child may accompany, (on a toy piano) the music boxes tune correctly by stricking only those keys hearolded (or signaled) by a blinking light. As each lights blinks over a given key (of a toy piano) just before the corresponding metal reed in the music box sounds, (this being the point when the plucking pin is in the process of plucking) there is even some allowance of time for the childs reflexes in his responding to the light signal.

2 Claims, 11 Drawing Figure TONE INDICATING MUSIC BOX AND ITS APPLICATION TO A MUSIC INSTRUMENT DISCLOSURE My invention, a tone indicating music box and its application to a music instrument, is similar to the well known music box with its revolving drum, a known switch also utilizing a revolving drum, a number of lighting lights which are representative of specific music tones also known, and the application of indicator lights also well known.

As a music box, my invention is novel in that the tone producing reed is also an electric switch contact.

As a switch utilizing a revolving drum my invention is novel in that each switch contact vibrates at a specific frequency producing a specific music tone.

As a number of lighting lights that are representative of specific music tones, my invention is novel in that the light lights just before the music tone is produced, and then goes out just as the music tone is produced, and remains out until just before the music tone is again produced.

As an application of indicator lights, my invention is novel in that I have applied indicator lights to a music instrument and in conjunction with a new and different combination of inventive subject matter.

Furthermore, the total or sub-total of my invention is much more substantially novel because of a novel combination of these novelties.

DRAWING FIG. 1 represents a tone indicating music box and its application to a music instrument. Since the music box mechanism is so well known, I chose to show, in detail, only those modifications peculiar to my invention, and leave out the detail of the rest of the mechanism typical of the well known music box. I left out any detail of any specific music instrument as I chose to describe a method of using or applying and not a specific design.

In FIG. 1: l, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 each represent a metal reed. Each metal reed produces a different tone, when plucked, each metal reed is electrically conductive, but electrically isolated from each other metal reed as well as from electrical ground, at point of attatchment or mounting upon 13, an isolating mounting board made of electrically non-conductive material. 9 represents one of the metal plucking pins. 10 represents the metal revolving drum which is studded with a number of metal plucking pins including metal plucking pin 9. 11 is the pivot point of the metal revolving drum 10, a metal axil and bearing arrangement. (This is a provision for the turning or rotating of metal rotating drum 10). 12 is the metal mounting base. Plucking pin 9, revolving drum 10, and mounting base 12 all are of the same electrical ground, there being electrical continuity through axil and bearing arrangement at pivot point 1 1.

In FIG. 1, 13 represents the isolating mounting board made of electrically non-conductive material.

In FIG. 1, 14', 15,16, 17, l8, 19, and 21 each represent an electrically conductive wire providing for electrical continuity from each metal reed (l, 2, 3 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8) to a light bulb, each light bulb represented by 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 2 7, 28 and 29.

In FIG. 1, 30 represents an electrically conductive wire provided an electrically conductive path from light bulbs 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29 to terminal 31 of voltage source 35.

In FIG. 1, 33 represents an electrically conductive wire providing an electrically conductive path between terminal 32 of voltage source 35 and terminal 34 of mounting base 12, terminal 34, wire 33, and terminal 32 also being a part of electrical ground.

In FIG. 1, voltage source 35 may be AC. or D.C. as it makes no difference in which direction the electric cur rent goes. The positive and negative sign however suggests D.C. However, it is not my intention that this suggestion imply only D.C. of that polarity can be used, or that AC cannot be used.

In FIG. 1, terminal 31 represents the hot end of voltage source 35, and terminal 32 is the end connected to electrical ground, representing the ground of the voltage source, 35. The electrical ground does not necessarily mean terra firma or earth. However, the electrical ground does represent a common electrically conductive path.

In FIG. 1, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 and 43 each represent a point of actuation of a music instrument such as the keys of a piano. A point of actuation may be any point (or area) of any music instrument that, when pressed, struck, or plucked, causes a sound of a specific tone to occur.

In FIG. 1, 44 represents a means of turning or rotating metal rotating drum 10. Such means are well known, usually a spring wound motor, although an electric motor mechanism may be used. Indeed, it may even be turned by hand, at least, experimentally.

In FIG. 1, metal plucking pin 9 is in the process of plucking metal reed 8. There is electrical continuity from the positive sign of terminal 32 to the negative sign of terminal 31. Because 35 represents a voltage source, light bulb 29 is lighted. At this time no other light bulb is lighted because there is. no other metal plucking pin in contact with metal reeds 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. However, since the metal rotating drum 10 is revolving (44 the means of turning) soon, metal reed 8 will sound (produce a tone) and at the same time, light bulb 29 will go out, as the process of plucking is completed and, at the same time, electrical continuity ended. The other metal plucking pins similar to metal plucking pin 9, produce a similar result upon plucking the metal reed with which they come into contact as the metal revolving drum revolves.

Points of actuation 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 42 and 43, when respectively struck, plucked, or pressed, respectively produce a similar tone as metal reeds I, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

Light bulbs 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 are respectively placed within the proximity of points of actuation 36, ,37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 and 43.

Since each light bulb represents the metal reed to which it is electrically connected each light bulb signals which pointof actuation to actuate to produce, at the same time, a similar tone, as that produced by each metal reed each light bulb represents as each metal reed is plucked.

The nature of the signal produced by said light bulbs is as follows: A light bulb goes on just before a metal reed sounds, (this being the point when the metal reed is in the process of being plucked) and goes out just as the metal reed sounds. (Point where electrical continuity is broken).

I claim:

1. A tone indicating music box comprising in combination, a voltage source with one end connected to electrical ground and a hot end, a metal revolving drum studded with metal plucking pins mounted with a provision for turning and maintaining electrical continuity to ground, a means of rotating the metal revolving drum; a number of metal reeds, each producing a different tone when plucked and mounted with a provision for electrical isolation from each other and from electrical ground, a number of light bulbs equal to the number of metal reeds, a provision for wiring one side of each of the light bulbs to each metal reed, a provision for wiring the other side of all the light bulbs to the hot end of the voltage source, wherefore, each light bulb represents the metal reed to which it is wired, and lights, and only lights at the time said metal reed is being plucked by a metal plucking pin as the metal drum rotates.

2. The device of claim 1, in combination with a musical instrument having means for producing a plurality of musical tones corresponding in pitch to tones produced by said reeds, said musical instrument including actuator means equal in number to the tones produced by said instrument which when actuated cause said tone producing means to be sounded and means for mounting said bulbs adjacent said actuator means whereby said bulbs when lighted indicate which of the plurality of actuator means must be actuated to produce a tone on said musical instrument corresponding in pitch to the tone produced by the reed to which said lighted bulb is connected. 

1. A tone indicating music box comprising in combination; a voltage source with one end connected to electrical ground and a hot end, a metal revolving drum studded with metal plucking pins mounted with a provision for turning and maintaining electrical continuity to ground, a means of rotating the metal revolving drum; a number of metal reeds, each producing a different tone when plucked and mounted with a provision for electrical isolation from each other and from electrical ground, a number of light bulbs equal to the number of metal reeds, a provision for wiring one side of each of the light bulbs to each metal reed, a provision for wiring the other side of all the light bulbs to the hot end of the voltage source, wherefore, each light bulb represents the metal reed to which it is wired, and lights, and only lights at the time said metal reed is being plucked by a metal plucking pin as the metal drum rotates.
 1. A tone indicating music box comprising in combination; a voltage source with one end connected to electrical ground and a hot end, a metal revolving drum studded with metal plucking pins mounted with a provision for turning and maintaining electrical continuity to ground, a means of rotating the metal revolving drum; a number of metal reeds, each producing a different tone when plucked and mounted with a provision for electrical isolation from each other and from electrical ground, a number of light bulbs equal to the number of metal reeds, a provision for wiring one side of each of the light bulbs to each metal reed, a provision for wiring the other side of all the light bulbs to the hot end of the voltage source, wherefore, each light bulb represents the metal reed to which it is wired, and lights, and only lights at the time said metal reed is being plucked by a metal plucking pin as the metal drum rotates. 